Tennis: Roger Federer took the first step towards what he hopes will be a third consecutive US Open title when he cruised past Taiwan's Wang Yeu-tzuoo 6-4 6-1 6-0 in the first round.
The world number one was at his effortless best as he raced to victory in just one hour 41 minutes to set up a clash with the winner of the all-British clash between Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski.
"I think it was an excellent match," Federer said. "It's always good to come in and play well. I had to fight hard in the first set."
Federer, who has won four of the past five grand-slam events, was pushed hard by the world number 109 in the first set but then romped through the remainder of the match. John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl are the only other men to have won three consecutive titles at the US Open in the professional era.
Second seed Rafael Nadal made an impressive start to his title bid when he beat former runner-up Mark Philippoussis 6-4 6-4 6-4.
The Spaniard, who has never been beyond the third round in three visits to Flushing Meadows, looked full of confidence as he brushed aside the Australian wildcard in just over two hours.
Philippoussis hammered 19 aces but French Open champion Nadal broke once in each of the first two sets to take command.
Nadal broke again in the opening game of the third set and after saving four break points in the fourth game, held on to set up a clash with Luis Horna of Portugal or fellow Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.
Women's top seed Amelie Mauresmo completed her rain-suspended match with Kristina Barrois, defeating German qualifier, 6-1 7-5. The victory over Barrois sets up a second-round match against American Meghann Shaughnessy.
After the rain forced the suspension of her match, Mauresmo opened play on Wednesday a set up but 5-2 down in the second to the world number 131.
Although the 6-foot-tall (1.83 m) Barrois got within two points of levelling the match at one set apiece, Mauresmo won five consecutive games to secure the victory.
In other matches, Serbian 16th seed Ana Ivanovic had a tough time with Russian Vera Dushevina but prevailed, 6-3 5-7 6-4.
of Portugal or fellow Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.